Hello. My name is Jeri Lynn. I am a 30 year old mother of 5 beautiful children, one (12 yr old female) who was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 5 years old. I wasn't very thrilled about putting her on the medication, so after she failed Kindergarten and was taking it for her second year I decided I owed it to her to do what I could to help. At first I thought giving her the ritalin was a blessing. She was able to sit still without fidgeting for long periods of time and concentrate on what she was doing. She was completing assignments etc... afterwards I was discouraged to find what the side affects were doing to her. She's a very petite little girl anyway, being that her mom is just under 5' *grin*, anyway... the meds (ritalin)affected her eating habbits, she had terrible nose bleeds, she basically reminded me of a little zombie. I felt the medication had totally taken my little Jamie away from me. Trying to make a long story short here... I tried my daughter on several different medications tried reductions, slow release ritalin etc...Finally I decided last year (which would have been 5th grade for her) to take her off the medication and give her a try in school (she hated the meds) so we did. At the end of the year, her final marking period., she brought home 8 D's on her report card :(I'm happy to say this year she is doing much better. I've finally, after several attempts on several different kinds of medicines, found one that she takes in moderation, that is seemingly working real well for her. Although I must add, no matter what kind it is, she absolutely hates taking it. She's currently yaking a medicine called Adderall. She takes 7.5 mgs before school every morning amd by the time she gets home, it's pretty much worn off. Just enough to help her during the school hours.I wish there were other alternatives, but it has been my experience (as much as I hate it) that the drugs have been our only hope.I do hope in your situation that you find what's best for your daughter. My heart truely goes out to you, Tammy.May God bless and keep you and your family.Sincerely,Jeri Heavey (Jziggy1@toast.net)